Hello: I'm new to Fender. I have a new American Deluxe coming from a supposedly reputable dealer, meaning I know that I can definitely return the guitar if something is not correct. I have the serial number of the guitar. Is there someplace I can go to verify the serial number, as I only want to verify the accurate year of the model? The dealer, authorized, advertised the guitar as new and unplayed, but does not advertise the year. I am only trying to make sure that it is not new old stock, and if it is a 2009, vs a 2010. I know it is probably a common question, and I could not locate any info on the web site. I see where you can verify most strats pre 2005. The dealer has avoided my question after 3 repeated emails. Thank you for any help. This looks to be a good community of people helping other people.

Oh boy - it's not that simple to ID these just by serial number alone. Fender serial numbers overlap; so even a new model could have a serial number from the previous year.

First let's address the serial numbers. All things being equal, here is how the serial numbers should read:

2009 American Deluxe: DZ9XXXXXX

EDIT: This is wrong
2010 American Deluxe D10XXXXXX or DUS10XXXXXX (evidently Fender didn't like just having the "10" and decided to add the "US" part to it.
EDIT: The 2010 American Deluxes no longer have the "D" at the beginning of their serial numbers; the ones I have seen simply have a "10XXXXX" serial number.

The difficult part is that Fender actually started building the 2010 new-spec American Deluxes in late 2009; the first batch of guitars with the new specs will actually have a "DZ9XXXXXX" serial number.

Because of this you will also have to have the verify the specs of the guitar. A 2009 American Deluxe will have SCN noiseless single-coil pickups. These have a raised "SCN" on the pickup cover. The new 2010 American Deluxes will have "N3" noiseless single-coil pickups. These have "N3" printed on the pickup cover in gold letters. Also certain finishes are new for 2010 - like the metallic sunburst, the metallic vintage white, and the new silver color is darker.

Also, 2009 American Deluxes have abalone dots on both maple and rosewood fingerboards; 2010 American Deluxes now have black dots on the maple fingerboard and pearloid dots on the rosewood fingerboards.

Hope all this helps.

Overlapping years. The earliest Stratocaster Pluses, like mine, had "E4" as the first 2 digits of the S/N.

If you ever run into someone trying to sell you a "1984" Strat Plus, it's actually an '87.

Remember parts are parts and when you are building a guitar made in a factory you grab whatever neck is hanging around.

For instance: the Serial number on David Gilmour's white Strat says, "0001." This was not the 1st Strat made.

The most important thing is that you enjoy the guitar.

I have 5 Strats. One of which is made from Fender parts (Electronics and pick ups, that sort of thing), a Warmoth neck and body.

Of all of my Strats that's the one everyone loves the most. I can't explain it. I own some of the finest Fender Strats (EC Signiture, too) and everyone wants to play the parts-o-caster.


Paris

At the top of this web page, go to Support- Product Dating. Also you can call Fender directly and they'll be happy to answer your questions.

_________________
"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


facebook.com/313DBC

At the top of this web page, go to Support- Product Dating. Also you can call Fender directly and they'll be happy to answer your questions.

_________________
"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


facebook.com/313DBC

Thanks fender friends, i'm a newbie.......

My American deluxe v neck comes tomm.......!

I'm happy that I found this page. I'm in the same situation - I came home with an American Deluxe which has serial number like 10xxxxx and seeing other AD have numbers starting with DZ was confusing me. At least now I understand that this nice Olympic white with rosewood fret pard, which plays beautifully is what I payed for.

One other point still needs clarification, though: that the bridge does not have a snap in tremolo, but a screw in instead. If this is a Strat 2010 or later, shouldn't it definitely have the bridge with the lock in trem? The pick ups are Noiseless N3 on neck and middle; it's an HSS so it has a humbucker by the bridge.

I have a 2010 American Deluxe HSS Strat, serial number US10xxxxxx. It has a pop in tremolo arm.